Barrancas Florida Monday March 28th
Dear Sister I received your letter this morning you ask me why I didnt [sic] write before I thought I would look the property over first I dont [sic] think their [sic] is any use of writing every week But if you think you cant [sic] get along I will do so I did not loose [sic] any money on board the boat the Sharpers new who to rob the Rebs burnt Pensacola on the 20th of February the town is deserted encepting about 30 inhabitant and they ar [sic] very hard up the town is 7 miles from our camp The rebs set it on fire at midnight the next morning Genral [sic] Asboth ordered the Cavelary [sic] and our company up there to drive them out when we get there the Rebs [sic] had ben [sic] gone about tenn [sic] minits [sic] they were Cavelary [sic] and but a few of them at that they burnt the
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Catholic Church the market and all the Buildings that were any use to us The Rebs [sic] ar [sic] not very thick about here. They dont [sic] trouble [sic] us much we have a Piger [sic] Regiment that do all the Picket duty out side [sic] The Rebs sometimes fire on them in The night this place is so strongly fortified that they cant [sic] take it Rebil [sic] disirters [sic] come in here every day I dont [sic] think that I could have got into any Regiment on the Potomac and have as easey [sic] times as I am having here I havent [sic] done any duty since I came here except to drill twice a day and a battalion drill once in a while I get excused by doing a little Tailoring for the company I cant [sic] say that I like the grub we have here but I suppose I shall have to put up with it It is nothing but sault [sic] Horse Bread and Coffee there is one thing shure [sic] I wont [sic] ketch [sic] the gout [sic] our quarters ar[sic] Built of logs much better than tents good a nugh [sic] for Soldiers
[page break] The Vilage [sic] of Warington is But half
a mile from camp I can get what things I want there but they ask the highest prise [sic] for every thing [sic] Butter 50 cents a pound eggs 80 cent a dozen tobaco [sic] 10 cents a paper writing paper 5 cents a sheet and every thing In porpation [sic] I would be willing to pay 50 for The butter if it didn’t stink so like the devil you can send me a few things if you chuse [sic] I dont [sic] want you to break your neck in doing it Give my love to Winnie tell her I like here very well but it is very lonesome without seeing the girls once in a while we have dances up to the redout and over to Piekins we have a very polite name for them we Call them stag dances we have no ladies to attend but we some times invite in a heep of Niger [sic] Wenches and have a rite [sic] small time Tell Ma that I will send her the money that I owe her when I get paid the Regiment is a going home some time in April or
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May I dont think they will get this pay till they get to Brattleboro where they ar [sic] to be musterd [sic] in to the srvis [sic] they was musterd [sic] in here but they cant hold them because they have got to be musterd [sic] in in the state of Vermont but I think we will get our pay soon they talk some of taking the recruits home with the regiment then they talk of sending us to Fort Pickins till they come back and have Frank Finney drill us I think we will have to stay here but I hope not give my love To Ma and tell her that I will send the money to pay for Claras music leson [sic] when I get some till kate to send her Photograph and if she has any other good looking girls to send it along I saw Matilda Parkers Beau at Cuttersville to a dance I think he is a lunk hed [sic] I
